How to Get a Walking Workout Without Leaving Your House

Photo by Kristian Egelund on Unsplash

Going for long walks is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air, but if you’re practicing social distancing, the weather isn’t nice outside, or you don’t have time to schedule a walk, you can always house walk. House walking differs from walking outside in that you’re focusing on getting steps in instead of trying to get from one location to another. House walking can include 10-minute stairs walking or walking in place or completing a 30-minute walking video. Here are some tips for making the most out of house walking.

Set a Goal

At the beginning of the day, set a step goal to reach by the end of the day. This will motivate you to get up and move and it allows you to compare your steps indoor with those you would usually complete outdoors or on the treadmill.

Get a Fitness Tracker

Fitness trackers count your steps for you and the calories you’ve burned. Some fitness trackers even tell you when to get moving if you’ve been seated for a long time. If you can’t afford a fitness tracker, most smartphones have step counters or you can get a basic pedometer.

Move Often

The less you’re still the better—go for a walk every 15-minutes or walk in place while you’re watching a movie. The more you move the more calories you’ll burn.

Add Bodyweight Exercises

Walking in place for 30-minutes can become boring so switch it up and increase the number of calories you’ll burn by alternating steps with bodyweight exercises like lunges, pushups, squats, or butt kickers. For every 3-5 minutes of walking you do, do a set of 10-15 repetitions of an exercise.